Dinesh Karthik Picks Pujara & Rahane's Replacements In Indian Test Team For Border-Gavaskar Trophy

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posted on 3 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane played big roles in helping India win the last two Test series in Australia, but they are no longer part of the Indian Test team.

The Indian men’s cricket team will travel to Australia later this year to take part in a five-match Test series. The 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to start on November 22 in Perth, and the next four matches will be played in Adelaide (D/N), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. India has managed to win the last two Test series played in Australia, and it will look to complete the hat-trick this year. However, it won’t be an easy task as the Aussies are a strong side and currently sit at the No. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings.

In the last two Test tours of Australia, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane played a big role for the Indian team, but the two senior cricketers are no longer part of the red-ball team, and it is highly unlikely that they will be picked for the tour Down Under as well.

During a recent Q/A session on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show, when former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik was asked about Pujara and Rahane’s replacements in the Team India for Australia tour, he mentioned Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan’s names.

According to Karthik, Gill and Sarfaraz have done exceptionally well in the five-match Test series against England at home earlier this year and will surely be on the flight to Australia. He feels both the youngsters have the quality to fill the big shoes and will be trying to do their best.

“Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan. Both of those batters have done really well against England in the home series that recently happened at the start of the year. I have a feeling both of them will definitely be on that flight to Australia and will be trying to do their best. We will know if they’re able to replace both Ajinkya and Pujji (Pujara). Big shoes to fill, but they have the quality and calibre in them,” Karthik said.

Gill was part of the Indian team and won the 2020-21 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He top-scored for India in the second innings of the Brisbane Test, which India won by three wickets after chasing down the target of 328 runs on the fifth and final day of the match.